Lung Cancer: Treatment

Mucositis

Mouth sores (mucositis) can be caused by chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Mucositis is the inflammation of mucous membranes from your mouth to your esophagus, stomach, intestines, and anus. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy target rapidly dividing cancer cells, but can affect other rapidly dividing cells, such as those in your mucous membranes.

Mild mucositis can feel like a sunburn in your mouth, heartburn, abdominal and rectal pain, and pain when having a bowel movement. People with severe mucositis have open sores in their mouths and along their GI tract, making it difficult to eat, talk, chew and swallow, or have a bowel movement. Bacteria can invade the open sores, causing infection. The pain from mucositis while eating and swallowing may decrease your appetite or desire to eat, which can have a poor affect on your overall health. Painful bowel movements can lead to constipation and reduced appetite, interfering with your desire to eat.

If you become too run-down or have persistent difficulty with mouth sores, your chemotherapy treatment may be delayed or the dose of medication may be reduced. Mucositis tends to resolve in 2-4 weeks with good mouth care and medications.